London pre-open: Stocks to edge up as investors eye G20

London stocks were set to edge tentatively higher at the open on Thursday following an upbeat session in Asia, as investors eyed this week's G20 meeting.

The FTSE 100 was called to open six points higher at 7,422.

CMC Markets analyst David Madden said: "The G20 summit which kicks off tomorrow is on traders’ minds.

"On Saturday, the meeting between China’s Xi Jinping and Donald Trump could determine the next big move in global equity markets. The Huawei ban and the question of intellectual property protection are likely to be sticking points from the US side.

"Equity markets in Asia posted modest gains overnight as traders in the Far East seem to be hopeful ahead of the US-China trade talks."

In corporate news, Hunting said trading is in line with expectations, with interim revenue and earnings expected to come in ahead of the same period last year after the increase in the West Texas Intermediate oil price from $45 to $58 per barrel provided some improved stability within the US market.

B&Q and Castorama owner Kingfisher has appointed Thierry Garnier - the chief executive officer of Carrefour Asia - as its new CEO.

Garnier, whose start date is yet to be finalised, will take over from Veronique Laury.

Serco said it expects 2019 revenue to be around the top end of its previously stated guidance of £2.9bn to £3bn, as it maintained its guidance for underlying trading profit of around £105m.

Chief executive Rupert Soames said: "The revenue growth seen in the second half of 2018 has continued, and profits and margins are both well up on the first half of last year. Order intake in the first half of this year has been very strong at over £3bn, already exceeding our revenue forecast for the whole of 2019."